By Vicky Sidler | Published 15 December 2025 at 12:00 GMT+2

We all know that one coworker who sends immaculate reports that say absolutely nothing. Turns out they may not even be the author. Just the enthusiastic forwarder of what researchers are calling “workslop”—AI”-generated content that looks polished but forces someone else to do the real thinking.

This delightful concept comes courtesy of a new study from BetterUp Labs in collaboration with Stanford’s Social Media Lab, featured in Harvard Business Review. The researchers found that while companies are pushing AI adoption across teams, most aren’t seeing results. One big reason? Low-effort AI content is making everything harder.

TL;DR:

• “Workslop” is AI-generated output that looks helpful but shifts the real work to someone else

• Nearly half of workers say they’ve received workslop in the past month

• It’s costing companies millions in lost productivity and trust

• Workslop makes colleagues look less capable and even less intelligent

• Good AI use requires context, collaboration, and clear thinking

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Table of Contents:

What Is Workslop?

Workslop is the corporate version of reheated leftovers that looked gourmet in the photo. It's content generated by AI that seems fine at first glance—a deck, a summary, a draft—but is missing real understanding or relevance.

It’s what happens when someone asks AI to write something vague, pastes it into a doc, and sends it off without checking if it makes sense. The result? The next person in line is left wondering what any of it actually means.

This isn’t just annoying. It costs time. Workers in the study said each workslop incident takes nearly two hours to clean up. Add salaries and scale that across a 10,000-person organization, and you’re staring at over $9 million a year in lost productivity.

Why It’s a Problem:

Workslop doesn’t just waste time. It erodes trust.

About half of the people who received it thought less of the sender’s creativity, reliability, or intelligence. A third said they wouldn’t want to work with that person again.

Even worse? Nearly 40% of senders were managers. Which means many employees are getting vague, confusing, AI-generated tasks from above—and then expected to magically know what to do with them.

So now we’re not just dealing with unclear expectations. We’re cleaning up after the boss’s chatbot.

The Invisible Tax of Fake Productivity:

Here’s where things get bleak. When someone sends out workslop, they’re not saving time. They’re outsourcing it. Not to the machine, but to you.

One example from the research: A frontline manager received an AI-written email so confusing that it took two hours, a meeting, and a rewrite just to get the team aligned again.

Another person in finance had to choose between rewriting the task, asking the sender to do it again, or just letting it slide. None of those choices are good.

Now multiply that scenario by dozens of tasks a month. You’re not looking at efficiency. You’re looking at an epidemic of mental laziness dressed in bullet points.

Why This Matters for Small Teams Too:

You might think this is a big company problem. It isn’t.

In smaller teams, every task counts. If you’re one of five people and you spend two hours fixing someone else’s AI mess, that’s 20% of your day.

And if clients are on the receiving end? Even worse. You risk looking sloppy, inconsistent, or even out of touch.

As a Duct Tape Marketing Consultant, I’ve seen this firsthand. Clients ask why content or messaging doesn’t land—and often, the root cause is something written by AI without proper direction. It looks okay but lacks meaning. And meaning is what moves people.

How to Spot Workslop Before It Spreads:

Look for these telltale signs:

• Sounds impressive but says nothing

• Generic advice with no reference to your context

• Misses key project details that a real human would know

• Feels like a long-winded shrug in a suit

If you’re receiving it, speak up. If you’re sending it, pause. Ask if the content actually helps someone move forward—or if it just checks a box.

The Cure—Pilot Mindset, Not Passenger Mentality:

The research found that people who use AI well share two traits: high agency and high optimism. These folks treat AI like a co-pilot. They give context, refine drafts, and use it to boost their own thinking.

They don’t delegate the whole job. They use AI to support the outcome.

In contrast, people who use AI to avoid doing the work? They create more mess than momentum.

Use AI to enhance clarity, not replace it. Use it to write smarter, not faster.

And above all, remember that every AI-generated message is still a human conversation. Respect your reader’s time. They can tell the difference.

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Related Articles:

1. New MIT Study Links AI Use to Weaker Critical Thinking

If “workslop” made you question your team’s thinking skills, this study confirms your suspicion. AI shortcuts may be dulling human brains.

2. AI Replacing Humans Backfires—What CEOs Miss

Automation seems efficient until the real cost shows up. This post shows how taking the human out of the loop can backfire on multiple levels.

3. StoryBrand for Small Business: The Clear Messaging Shortcut

Ready to replace fluff with clarity? This guide helps you ditch vague AI output and say exactly what your customers need to hear.

4. Risks and Artificial Intelligence: What Small Businesses Must Know

Workslop creates internal chaos. This post covers the external damage—like broken trust and legal issues.

5. AI Research Is Not As Smart As You Think

Workslop isn’t just a delivery issue. This article explains how AI gets research wrong too, reinforcing the need for a human brain behind every AI output.

6. Sora’s AI Copyright Problem Is Bigger Than OpenAI Admits

A cautionary tale in action. This piece shows how AI-generated content isn’t just sloppy—it can be legally risky.

7. AI in Marketing Needs Human Thinking

Feeling overwhelmed by AI clean-up? This article walks through how to reintroduce strategy and human intent to your marketing workflow.

Frequently Asked Questions About AI Workslop

1. What is “workslop”?

Workslop is low-effort content generated by AI that looks polished but lacks substance. It often creates more work for the next person by requiring clarification, rework, or complete rewriting.

2. Why is workslop such a big problem?

It wastes time, damages collaboration, and reduces trust in the workplace. Each incident can take nearly two hours to fix and may lower how competent or reliable the sender is perceived to be.

3. How can I tell if something is workslop?

If the content sounds impressive but lacks clear context or direction, it’s probably workslop. It often reads like a generic answer that doesn’t address the actual task or problem.

4. Is it okay to use AI at work at all?

Yes, but only with intention. AI should support your thinking, not replace it. Use it to generate drafts, explore ideas, or clarify your writing—but always add human context and oversight.

5. What’s the difference between a “pilot” and a “passenger” when it comes to AI use?

“Pilots” use AI to enhance their creativity and productivity. “Passengers” use AI to avoid work. Pilots guide the process. Passengers hand it over and hope for the best.

6. How much does workslop actually cost businesses?

The study estimates workslop costs companies around $186 per employee per month in lost productivity. For a 10,000-person team, that’s over $9 million a year.

7. Is workslop just a big company issue?

No. In small businesses, the impact is even greater. Every wasted hour counts, and miscommunication with clients can harm relationships and reputation.

8. Can AI ever create high-quality content?

Yes, but only when paired with clear human input. AI needs direction, context, and review. It won’t magically know what matters to your business or your audience.

9. What can I do to avoid creating workslop?

Give your AI clear instructions, add context, and review the output critically before sharing it. Ask yourself whether it actually helps the recipient or just looks good.

10. Where can I get help making my own content clearer?

Start with the5-Minute Marketing Fix. It helps you create one strong sentence that explains what you do and why it matters—so you’re never tempted to hide behind fluffy AI filler.